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Preflight weather considerations – Good preflight planning begins with a review of the overall weather synopsis. How does this tie into radar? Airborne weather radar systems give pilots a snapshot of activity in real time. It does not predict what will happen in the future. Given the potential growth rate of convective weather, it is very important to factor atmospheric potential into the equation. A thorough preflight weather review is the first step in evaluating atmospheric potential.
Non-radar clues – Operators who have a thorough knowledge of radar systems understand radar should not be used as a "go/no-go" device; there are simply too many limitations. Pilots must evaluate the atmosphere based on atmospheric potential and then use the radar to verify their suspicions. We provide ten "red flags" as a starting point for this evaluation.
Preflight inspection considerations – Several things can inhibit the efficiency of airborne weather radar. A damaged radome, improper repair, or radome contamination will all have an effect on radar efficiency. The preflight inspection is a good opportunity to check radome condition.
Use of radar during ground operations/taxi – Commonly, pilots may delay turning the weather radar on until the aircraft is lined up on the departure runway. This may deny the pilot the opportunity to make a critical evaluation prior to departure. We offer operational considerations for utilizing the radar (when safe to do so) during ground operations. Radar systems with a narrow sweep warrant special consideration.
Tilt considerations during takeoff – Radar systems have physical limits that restrict the pilot's ability to thoroughly evaluate departure corridor weather. Attenuation during this phase may also manifest itself differently than in other phases of flight. Techniques and considerations addressing this phase of operations are detailed.
Cruise considerations – Using weather radar at cruise altitude presents unique challenges. A discussion of general cruise considerations is offered as well as key limitations when employing the radar at long range.
Cell shape and gradient – There is no such thing as a benign or harmless convective cell. They all present varying degrees of hazards. Some cells, however, warrant a wider margin of safety than others. Cell shapes and gradients may provide a clue. We will discuss some significant characteristics to be considered when analyzing a weather target.
Over-flight of convective cells – Certain considerations must be factored into any operational decision to over-fly a thunderstorm. Day, VMC the radar may not even be necessary to do this. Night or IMC offers a different challenge and the only information available may come from the radar. We offer pilots information on some of the risks and limitations of the radar when used in this capacity.
Terminal area operations – Operations in the vicinity of some airports is time-compressed with a high workload even on good days. Add hazardous weather to the equation and the complexity of the situation increases exponentially. This is not the time to be turning the radar on for the first time and struggling with proficiency. Radar operations must be second nature. The majority of convective weather accidents have occurred in the terminal area indicating this phase of flight is potentially high risk and very unforgiving. We arm pilots with the information it takes to approach this regime of flight with confidence, emphasizing proficiency.
Growth rate – The growth rate of convective weather can exceed several thousand feet a minute. We emphasize that any analysis made using airborne radar can rapidly become old news when growth rate is factored into the equation. Operational decisions must consider this aspect of hazardous weather. We will offer a case study demonstrating the violent potential of growth rate.
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